Improvement in reversing-valves for steam-engines



P; w. MELLEN.

Reversing-Valves for Steam-Engines.

No. 137,229. Patentedmarchzmms.

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AM, PHoro/HosRAPH/c co www5/vele mossssi) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER W. MELDEN, or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVERSING-VALVES FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,929, dated March25, 1873.

To all whom it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, PETER W. MELLEN, of the cit-y and county of St.Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain Improvement inReversin g-Valves for Steam-Engines, of which the following is aspecification:

My improvement consists in the manner of construction of the steam-portsin the oscillating valve, as described, so that the engine can bereversed or its speed graduated by partial rotation of the valve; also7in combination with said valve and a slide-valve, of the valvecase, inwhich the reversing-valve is inclosed and seated, and one side of whichforms the seat of the slide valve, as more fully described hereinafter.

Figure l is a section at X X, and Fig. 2 is A a section at X' X', Fig.3. Fig. 3 is a section at Y Y with the reversing-valve removed, and Fig.4 a section at Y' Y', Fig. l.

A is a portion of the engine-cylinder, and B ofthe piston, at nearmid-stroke. C is the steam-pipe, D the steam-chest, and E theslidevalve. Fis the exhaust-port. G G' are the steam-ports in the case Hof the reversingvalve, these 'ports extending from the steamchest to thereversing-valve I. The reversingvalve I is preferably of frusto-conicalform, t0 enable its adjustment to compensate for Wear. It is operatedthrough the medium of a stem, J, passing through a stufling-box, k, in,the head K. The valve I is traversed passages L L' and M M', whichconnect the ports G G' with the ports and passa-ges N N' a and O O' o inthe case H and cylinder A. The steam-ports N N' and passage acommunicate with one end of the cylinder, and those O O' o with theother end of the cylinder.

It will be seen by reference to the drawing, Figs. l and 2, that whenthe passage M M' is in communication with O' o and G', and the slidevalve E in the position shown, the steam will enter the cylinder throughG' M' M O' o, and will exhaust through n, N, L, L', G, and F, and as theslide-valve is brought to the other position the course of the steam isreversed, except as to the steam and exhaust pipes C and F. Suppose thereversing-valve to be turned so as to bring the passage L to connect Gand O, at the same time connecting G' and N' by the passage M. Then thevalve E, being in the position shown7 Figs. l and 2, the steam entersthe cylinder through G' M N' a and exhausts through o O L G, and therotation ofthe crank and main shaft will be reversed.

To regulate the speed of the engine it is only necessary to turn thereversing-valve I more or less so as to regulate the size of thesteamopenings between the steam-ports ofthe case H and valve I.

This device forms a compact and efficient substitute for thelink-motion" used on locomotives and in other positions.

I claim as my invention- 1. The reversing-valve I having steam-passagesL L' and M M', substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

2. In combination with the valve I, constructed as described, the case Hhaving ports G G' N N' O O', and forming upon one side the seaitqof theslide-valve E.

3. The combination of the reversing-valve I and case H, constructed asspecified, with the slide-valve E and a steam-engine cylinder,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

PETER W. MELLEN.

Witnesses SAML. KNIGHT, ROBERT BURNS.

